Never Let …

… the facts spoil a good campaign. Cycling UK is strongly supporting Welsh Government consultation proposals to widen access opportunities for cyclists west of Offa’s Dyke. In a recent news release email, Paul Tuohy, Cycling UK’s chief executive, urges cyclists to respond to the consultation to achieve “the lifting of restrictions to increase access for people cycling.”

So, just what ‘restrictions’ would these be? Surely what the Welsh Government is proposing is the statutory creation of access rights where none existed before? A very different thing from restrictions.

Of course, planting a seed in the mind of cyclists that their rights are being ‘restricted’, rather than that they should seek more rights, is a good way of stimulating the umbrage gland.

And horse riders and walkers seem surprisingly apathetic (from what we know) to the consultation proposal that cycle racing should be legalised on public bridleways. Once that slides through in Wales, can England be far behind?